Port Chester Resident Joins The Lustgarten Foundation and More Than 1,000 Westchester Residents in Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk

Port Chester resident Barbara Nusbaum will join more than 1,000 Westchester and surrounding area residents in support of her battle against pancreatic cancer by participating in The Lustgarten Foundation’s sixth annual Westchester Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk. The walk will be held on Sunday, April 19, at Rye Playland Park in Rye, NY.

The Lustgarten Foundation is the nation’s largest private foundation dedicated to funding pancreatic cancer research. Due to Cablevision’s support of the Foundation, 100 percent of every dollar that Barbara and her fellow walkers raise will go directly to pancreatic cancer research.

In 2007, Barbara was a healthy and active wife, mother and grandmother when she began to experience some stomach problems and then one day her skin became jaundiced. After an emergency hospital visit and CT scan, the diagnosis shocked her: stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Despite the disease’s grim statistics, as well as subsequent surgeries, chemotherapy and physical side effects, Barbara has remained steadfast in her determination that she will survive. Once her daughter Staci, motivated by her mother’s optimistic spirit, learned about the Foundation’s Westchester Walk that same year, she immediately signed up her mother and family as Team “Babs” for the first time to walk in support of other recently diagnosed patients. Team “Babs” has been participating every year since, with more than 30 family members and friends united to give hope to others and raise funds to advance research.

Barbara believes that participating in the walk is an inspirational way to celebrate her survival. And for Barbara, it is also fulfilling to know that 100 percent of all money she raises goes directly to pancreatic cancer research.

“Barbara is beating the odds and offers tremendous hope for others who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,” said Kerri Kaplan, executive director and chief operating officer of The Lustgarten Foundation. “Research is our best weapon in the fight against this deadly disease and the Foundation’s walks help raise awareness and funding, with every dollar raised going directly to research that could one day help save lives.”

The Lustgarten Foundation’s Westchester Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk at Rye Playland Park will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 19, with registration starting at 8:00 a.m. For more information about the walk or to register, please visit www.curePC.org.

About Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is swift and silent, often undetected until it’s too late. The overall five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is seven percent and most with advanced cancer die within a year. There are no early detection tests, no effective long-term treatments and, unless the cancer is surgically removed in its earliest stages, no cure. It is the fourth-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. For more information about pancreatic cancer, please visit: www.curepc.org/infographic.

About The Lustgarten Foundation

The Lustgarten Foundation is America’s largest private foundation dedicated to funding pancreatic cancer research. Based in Bethpage, New York, the Foundation supports research to find a cure for pancreatic cancer, facilitates dialogue within the medical and scientific community, and educates the public about the disease through awareness campaigns and fundraising events. The Foundation has provided millions of research dollars and assembled the best scientific minds with the hope that one day, a cure can be found. Due to the support of Cablevision Systems Corporation, a leading media and telecommunications company, 100 percent of every dollar donated to The Lustgarten Foundation goes directly to pancreatic cancer research. The Lustgarten Foundation and Cablevision are also partners in the curePC public awareness campaign in support of the fight against pancreatic cancer. For additional information, please visit www.curePC.org.

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